Monthly Archives: April 2016

Abby Endicott is a prosecutor that is the chief of the District Attorney’s homicide unit in Boston. When she gets a call of a homicide she arrives at the scene to find that the victim is fellow prosecutor Tim Mooney. Abby and Tim have been close for years, close enough that the two had been having a secret affair even after Tim had married.

Finding that Tim’s latest case that the trial was about to start for was for a man that had been involved in Abby’s best friend from high school being murdered Abby insists that she be put on the case to finally get a conviction. Sure that the defendant is also involved in Tim’s murder Abby puts everything into the case so the defendant will not get away with murder again.

Mission HIll seems to be the first book in a new series by Pamela Wechsler featuring Abby Endicott. Abby is one of those somewhat flawed characters as she has all kinds of hangs up herself but she is a strong person when it comes to her job and making sure justice is served.

I was a bit back and forth on whether I liked Abby herself or not. She’s from a rich family and regularly listing how much she spends on this or that. She has affairs with married men all the while having a loving boyfriend that she doesn’t seem too attached to. And she’s a bit closed off citing things like anxiety and trust issues but the saving grace was she was good with her job and working at this low paying position against the wishes of her rich family which made her a bit more likable in my opinion.

At the end of this read Abby had grown on me and being a sucker for a good legal/courtroom thriller I’d definitely check out where this series heads in any future books.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Like this:

John “Smoke” Conlan is serving time at a juvenile rehabilitation center in Denver, Colorado, known as the Y. He was convicted of two murders, that of his English teacher and another boy but he wasn’t the one that had actually killed his teacher and hadn’t meant to kill the boy either.

Smoke has one thing different about himself that the others in the center don’t have. He is not always locked up, he has the ability to do what is known as astral projection or have an out of body experience and move around freely outside of his cell and outside of the Y.

Smoke has spent his time traveling outside of his body doing favors and tasks for other inmates to ease his own time in lock up. One day though he meets Pink who can actually see him and who wants to help Smoke clear his name.

Reading the synopsis of Holding Smoke I was really quite intrigued but a little hesitant on whether I’d enjoy this story or not. I’m not a big fan of the character being locked up type of story but with the use of astral projection being thrown into the mix I was wondering how the story would turn out if he wasn’t quite locked up the whole read. In the end I’m glad I picked this one up as it’s certainly different from your normal type of fantasy/paranormal read but also easily falls into the mystery/thriller genre.

Smoke’s ability to be able to travel despite his incarceration led so much life into the story of someone being innocent but convicted and behind bars. Smoke’s able to get outside and investigate what had happened to himself but also his prison life adds in a lot of twists and turns and things mixed into the plot that a reader should find themselves completely engaged.

Overall, certainly a bit different and interesting read that mixes genres which I usually quite enjoy.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Like this:

Glass Sword is the second book in the Red Queen series by Victoria Aveyard. The action in this book picks up right after the explosive ending of Red Queen. Mare Barrow is now on the run from Maven who has become the Silver King after betraying everyone. Mare is making it a mission to hunt down other “new bloods” like herself before the King kills them all off or captures and controls them as they had with her when it was discovered she had Silver abilities.

For me when I was finished with Red Queen I think the explosive ending and betrayal in the first book really made the whole story and raised my rating and interest in the series. The story had a slow pace to it but while learning of the world and abilities I found myself intrigued enough to want to keep reading and then the ending was one of the shocking oh my what’s going to happen now ones that really gets you.

Unfortunately with Glass Sword the story is still an incredibly slow paced read that I struggled all throughout to even want to continue reading. The start of the book was a bit exciting picking up where we’d left off and a faster pace but it didn’t take too long to slow down and start losing my interest. Now that I know the world I would just sit reading and waiting for something amazing and I just never found it in this second book.

There are several parts throughout the read that I would perk up and think oh now we are getting somewhere but then they just seem to fizzle out and not amount to much. The whole Maven is bad now and we need to gather the troops to defend against him dragged on and on and while I hoped for another great ending I just didn’t get that either. The end of this one is just kind of depressing and blah in my opinion.

Overall, I’m sure some will love this series but for me I just felt it wasn’t bringing anything new or exciting to the table in this second book and found myself rather bored throughout.

Like this:

Drew McGovern was all ready to start her new life with her fiancee when she gets the devastating news that Colby was killed while helping someone stranded change their tire on the way home from his storm chasing job. Picking herself up after the tragic loss she’s now trying to find herself and learn to live without Colby.

When Drew runs into one of Colby’s old storm chasing buddies and he invites Drew along she thinks it’s just what she needs to get out of the slump she feels she’s been in the past year since the loss of Colby. What Drew didn’t expect was to find herself extremely attracted to Aiden who was Colby’s best friend and also on the storm chasing team.

I have to admit when I read the synopsis for this book I already knew I’d be hooked just due to the setting. Forget any kind of romance going on but I’m one that is always fascinated with movies and books with the whole natural disaster story line. Blown Away doesn’t disappointed as the characters travel around chasing after tornadoes and putting themselves in danger throughout.

However, even without the setting I think I would have enjoyed the relationship developing between Drew and Aiden. There was already a history there between them and obviously both having lost someone close to them it was completely logical for the two to end up with each other.

Overall, a nice romance with likable characters and a great setting.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Take two men, one woman, three children. Stir in one best friend and her fiancé doctor. Whisk one best friend’s niece, her two rock star boyfriends, and add a grizzled old octogenarian diner owner with a naughty mouth and her eighty-something boyfriend who loves every minute of her.

Put them all in a campground in northern Maine where the owners’ daughter has two special men of her own. Bake for 400 pages.

It’s Always Complicated is the sprawling saga of how Laura, Mike and Dylan (Her Billionaires) and Josie and Alex (It’s Complicated) have the wedding of a lifetime at Escape Shores Campground (the Obedient series) while Darla, Trevor and Joe (the Random series) make an appearance with a cast of characters that includes cameos from the Warlock Waitress and maybe…just maybe…Mavis the Chicken.

This book combines three of Julia Kent’s series in a madcap spectacle that yields one universal truth: love is a journey and not a destination, but people will drive you crazy along the way.

A small crowd of men wearing gun holsters ran past Josie and Alex, followed by three uniformed TSA agents.

“I wonder what that’s about?” Alex marveled, his eyes tracking the fracas. He and Josie had come to the Portland, Maine airport to pick up her mother, Marlene, and Aunt Cathy, Uncle Mike and her new Uncle Calvin. All the Ohio relatives were here for her and Alex’s wedding.

A cold wave of dread washed over her. They were running toward the baggage claim for the airline her entire family was on.

“I’ll bet it’s my mother,” she groaned, leaning against him for support. His strong arm wrapped around her shoulders and gave her the comfort she needed. Too bad he couldn’t give her a second backbone made of steel.

If he could, she knew, he would. The thought made her smile.

“I’m sure it’s nothing,” he said, giving her a squeeze. She looked up at him. Way up, given the enormous height difference between the two of them. His warm, brown eyes met hers and for an instant, she wondered if he might be right. That eternally positive outlook he had was a bit infectious.

Maybe she needed to stop assuming the worst of every situation.

A rotund security guard huffed and puffed, running past them, holding what looked like a spare uniform. He was talking into a walkie-talkie.

“Naked?” Huff huff. “She’s naked? What size?” Huff huff.

Alex’s kind eyes filled with alarm. It was both charming and horrifying. Josie couldn’t quite decide which impression she enjoyed more. There was a kind of schadenfreude in realizing she was right. His idealism was sweet, but sometimes she needed him to be more of a realist.

And Marlene served up an entire buffet of realism.

“Mile High Club again?” the guard asked, pausing to catch his breath. Josie watched him with a morbid fascination.

“Two men in one bathroom with a naked woman?” the guard barked into his walkie-talkie, eyebrows hitting the brim of his hat.

Josie snorted, the sense of dread spreading.

“How could it be anyone else?”

“That sounds more like something Darla would do,” Alex said. “You sure she’s still in Boston and not on this flight?”

Just as Josie was about to reply, the commotion got louder.

“MARLENE!” Josie heard the sense of outrage in her Aunt Cathy’s voice. The airport was small, but not that small. Cathy’s voice could carry. “WHAT IN THE HELL HAPPENED TO YOUR CLOTHES?”

Author Bio:

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Julia Kent writes romantic comedy with an edge, and new adult books that push contemporary boundaries. From billionaires to BBWs to rock stars, Julia finds a sensual, goofy joy in every book she writes, but unlike Trevor from Random Acts of Crazy, she has never kissed a chicken.

Eden Radley’s mother had divorced Eden’s father and remarried a younger man years ago. She then had a child who had an incurable disease and moved with her new family to Ohio to be near a treatment center. All of this caused a rift between Eden and her mother as Eden felt abandoned and replaced with her mother leaving for a new family.

Even though Eden had not forgiven her mother the last thing she wanted to hear was news of her death. But not only had Eden’s mother passed but the police had ruled it a murder/suicide in which she had not only taken her life but that of her young disabled son. After Eden attends the funeral all she really wants is answers as she just can’t believe her mother could do such a thing.

With Don’t Believe a Word my biggest complaint had to be it just took so long before the story even started to get into any kind of thriller/mystery vibe. It was probably a good 30-40% of the book before it started to take on any kind of momentum into the deaths of Eden’s mother and half brother. Once it got going though the story picks up tossing different suspects and scenarios as Eden began to question things.

The ending to the story was a great wrap up in itself but a part of me was kind of disappointed in it too because I felt that I’m not sure if anyone could’ve ever possibly figured it out during the story. It was just one of those out of left field answers that even if you like it overall it’s a bit disappointing to only maybe get lucky with a random guess.

Overall, a bit slow paced for my taste but not too bad of a read altogether.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Kit Doyle is a crime blogger and radio show host usually dealing with trying to solve cold cases. When her husband’s niece goes missing Kit can’t help but want to try to find her. Kit comes up with a plan that even though she herself is in her late twenties she thinks she can pass for a teen runaway so with the help of her ex-cop friend and her husband Kit goes undercover looking for Jessica.

Goodbye Forever seems to actually be part of a series featuring Kit Doyle. I didn’t realize there had been other books before this one and I think because of that this one got off to a bit of a slow start for me. I didn’t feel myself really connecting with Kit quickly due to there not being a lot about her job or her co-workers or husband. There were bits and pieces of things that must of happened in previous books but not expanded on enough to get a sense of her or her involvement with solving cases.

Once the story got going it picked up my interest and I began to understand the characters a bit better. Jessica and the other runaways had all had hard lives and issues so once learning more about what was going on I became more intrigued. The whole camp environment and kids there was a bit disturbing and cult like so it became more intense through the middle of the story.

After the slow start and then picking up the intensity in the middle the book became a lot more of a fast paced read from there. But unfortunately my one other complaint came at the very end of the story which was the ending seemed terribly rushed. Still a good read but I would have preferred the end had been a bit more expanding and not over so quickly.

Overall, 3.5 stars. A good read, just needed better pacing throughout with a bit more expanding on the story in the beginning and end.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Here’s the problem: when Rox was hired, she told her smoking-hot boss Cash that she was married, but she’s not. Now, three years later, she’s kind of accidentally living with him, and he’s being a perfect gentleman, dang it.

Everybody in the office said that Cash was a heartbreaker, that he’d bump her and dump her, so Rox decided not to become a statistic. She went out and bought herself some rings of the finest cubic zirconia so that she could work with Cash, who was several inches over six feet tall, emerald-eyed, ripped, gorgeous, his tailored suit clinging to his athletic body, sporting a British accent, and loaded.

It had seemed like such a good plan at the time.

But now, three years later, she and Cash have become friends. They travel together for work often, and they’re the best of buddies.When Rox gets thrown out of her apartment, Cash insists that she come live with him until they can find her a place because that’s what friends do.

Now, even though everyone insists that Cash never goes after married women, something about him has changed. There are little touches, little slips, and Rox is more and more tempted to tell hunky, gorgeous Cash that she never was married.

And then he’ll take her and break her, and then he’ll walk away, and then she’ll lose her job, and she still hasn’t found a place to live.

And yet, every time her looks at her with mischief in his dark green eyes, every time they’re teasing and it somehow turns into tickling, every time she swats at him and somehow ends up in his arms, she wants so much to risk everything.

What’s a working stiff to do when she falls in love with her friend, the boss?

Blair Babylon is the nom de plume of an award-winning, USA Today-bestselling author who used to publish literary fiction. Because professional reviews of her other fiction usually included the caveat that there was too much deviant sex and too much interesting plot, she decided to abandon all literary pretensions, let her freak flag fly, and write hot, sexy, erotic romance, plus wild, suspenseful thrillers, science fiction, and urban fantasy using the super-secret pen name Blair C. Babylon.

*** AUTHOR’S NOTE and CONTENT WARNING: This story contains triggers for rape victims and soldiers. I did my best to remain respectful to the healing process for both. Hillary’s feelings are hers alone and ONLY represent how she feels about her attack. Dylan’s emotions about his time at war are his ALONE. You are all strong and beautiful, and you will soar again! ***

A broken soldier …

Dylan Meyer lived his life fast and hard, doing anything to keep his emotions masked. In Crystal Gulf, Texas, women, drugs, and alcohol are in abundance. After all, it’s a college town. But eventually, his lifestyle caught up to him. The birth of his daughter, Aubrey, forced him to grow up and take responsibility for his actions. He let his vices go, cleaned up his act, and allowed himself to fall for Harley Evans.

But Dylan is a liar.

He lied to himself. To Harley. To his best friend, Bach. And then he lied himself right into a U.S. Army uniform. When he went to war, he left Harley with his best friend in hopes that he’d look out for her while he was deployed. Not in his darkest nightmares did he think Bach and Harley would fall in love.

A fallen angel …

Hillary Hayes is an eighteen-year-old sophomore in college who understands the importance of rules. She’s followed them her entire life. She gets perfect grades, avoids dating, and won’t stray from the future her mother mapped out. On the outside, she’s perfect. Inside, she’s drowning.

That carefully crafted future disappears when she downs a beer at a party. What’s left of that night is the wreckage of the girl she used to be.

Until she meets Dylan. Her brother’s best friend.

When Dylan returns from war, he can’t move past the betrayal. His daughter’s growing up without him. Flashbacks and PTSD from his time in Afghanistan consume him. He loses himself in a dark depression. There is no light in his darkness …until he meets Hillary. His best friend’s little sister is the only good thing among all the bad.

He’s her safe place.

She’s his light.

Can two damaged souls ever find peace, or is the damage too much to overcome?

When I walk into a book store I feel at home. When I smell the pages of a brand new book things make sense. When I read I am who I always wanted to be. I read to escape and I write so others can as well. My family, my actress dog Bella, coffee, and a steamy love story are a few of my most precious things. My Sweet Demise is my debut new-adult contemporary romance novel. Keep up to date with future releases: shanavanterpoolauthor.wordpress.com

Animal. Monster. Beast. That’s what they call Viktor Melikov, the man who hides in the dark … But even monsters need to be loved. The moment he sees the girl hired to dance for him, everything ceases to exist. It’s a feeling he’s unfamiliar with … and craves more than anything.

Alexis Kidd sells her body. Not because she wants to, but because she needs to. A girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do to support her family and survive.

Now she must dance for a man hiding behind a veil.

But when the urge to take a look grows too strong … Alexis gets more than she bargained for.

More than Viktor was willing to give.

Inspired by a fairytale, VIKTOR is a standalone Romance by New York Times & USA Today Bestselling author Clarissa Wild.

Without looking away, I grab the cereal and milk and pour them into my bowl. She takes another bite of her cereal, never taking her eyes off mine as I put the spoon in and taste it.

And then we sit and eat … and stare.

“Okay …” Winston says, and he grabs a newspaper and sits down on a stool in the kitchen and blocks us out while reading.

I don’t care. I’m not talking and neither is she. I’m not going to give her any more excuses to make a run for it, and she’s not telling me what she really thought when she saw me, so …

SMACK!

Something’s stuck to my face.

Sticky … milky … cereal.

And her face. It turns from a full-on frown to full-blown laughter.

She places her hand over her mouth, but it can’t hide her sly smile.

Grinding my teeth, I wipe my face off with a napkin and cock my head at her.

Slowly, I put the spoon back into the bowl, watching her stare as I bring it up to my face.

And then I quickly turn it around and catapult it at her.

It smashes right into her forehead.

I grin as it drips off her, and the smile is wiped off her face immediately.

“Motherfucker,” she growls, and she grabs another spoonful. “Oh, it’s on.”

Suddenly, we’re in an all-out war.

Cereal and milk flies everywhere. Spoons too.

“Hey! Watch it! I just bought new China,” Winston says, putting down his newspaper.

“Eat shit!” Alexis yells, throwing her entire bowl at my face.

I only barely manage to catch the bowl, without its contents … which are now splashed over my chest and the floor.

“Oh, now you’ve done it,” I growl, and I pick up my bowl, stand up, walk toward her … and throw it over the top of her head.

She squeals as the cold milk runs over her body, which only a thin nightgown covers. Her instantly hardening nipples catch my attention. They’re hard to miss, and I swallow back the emerging lust.

“Fuck. You’ll pay for that.”

Her fingers are on my chest before I know it, twisting my nipples.

“Ow! Fuck,” I scream, grabbing her wrists. “No, bad Lexi.”

“Woof,” she says, laughing.

I shake my head, laughing too.

I’m fucking angry she threw her food at me, but it was fucking fun too. I can’t decide which one is more important to feel right now.

But when I look into her eyes, everything ceases to matter.

Author Bio:

Want to be the first to get your hands on new books & get access to free short stories, giveaway prizes, previews, and more? Sign up here http://eepurl.com/FdY71

Clarissa Wild is a New York Times & USA Today Bestselling author, best known for the dark Romance novel Mr. X. Her novels include the Fierce Series, the Delirious Series, and Stalker. She is also a writer of erotic romance such as the Blissful Series, The Billionaire’s Bet series, and the Enflamed Series. She is an avid reader and writer of sexy stories about hot men and feisty women. Her other loves include her furry cat friend and learning about different cultures. In her free time she enjoys watching all sorts of movies, reading tons of books and cooking her favorite meals.